The Cloud Security Alliance CCSK is a vendor-neutral benchmark for cloud security knowledge. Version 5 reorganises the material into twelve domains, from governance to workload security and emerging technologies. Over three days we cover the whole body of knowledge and prepare you for the open-book online exam. Each domain ends with practice questions and a short case drawn from real cloud projects.
The essentials
Publisher : Cloud Security Alliance
Certification : CCSK – Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (v5)
Duration : 3 days (21 h), condensed 2-day version available
Level : Intermediate
Formats : Live virtual class · In-person in Casablanca · On-site (intra-company)
Languages : French or English
Exam facts : 60 multiple-choice questions · 120 min · 80% to pass · online, open book
Exam voucher: included or optional depending on the package — contact us.
Explain service and deployment models and the shared responsibility model.
Set up cloud governance and manage risk, audit and compliance.
Design identity, access and security monitoring suited to the cloud.
Secure networks, workloads, containers and data.
Build security into application development and incident response.
Place zero trust, AI and other recent technologies within a cloud strategy.
Use the CSA security guidance as a working reference after the course.
Program
Foundations and governance (domains 1–4)
Cloud computing concepts and architectures
Cloud governance
Risk, audit and compliance
Organization management
Identity and monitoring (domains 5–6)
Identity and access management
Security monitoring
Infrastructure and workloads (domains 7–8)
Infrastructure and networking
Securing virtual machines, containers and serverless workloads
Data and applications (domains 9–10)
Data security
Application security
Resilience and new approaches (domains 11–12)
Incident response and resilience
Related technologies and strategies
Prerequisites
No work experience or prior certification is required.
Security basics are strongly advised: firewalls, encryption, identity management.
Reading technical English helps, since the reference material is written in English.
Target audience
IT and security professionals moving to the cloud
Developers and operations teams
Auditors and compliance managers
Pre-sales engineers and solution architects
The exam
The CCSK exam is taken online and is open book: 60 multiple-choice questions drawn from a larger pool, 120 minutes and a passing score of 80%. The exam token bought from the Cloud Security Alliance includes two attempts, to be used within two years of purchase. Being allowed to check your notes is no substitute for study: time runs short if you look up every answer.
Preparation tips
Build a personal index of the CSA security guidance so you can find topics quickly.
Aim well above 80% in practice, as the margin for error is small.
Keep your second attempt in reserve and review your mistakes before using it.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is the CCSK exam really open book?
Yes. You may consult your materials during the exam, but at roughly two minutes per question you still need to know the content to pass. Questions often turn on fine distinctions in terminology or on how responsibility is split between customer and provider, which you should already have absorbed.
How many attempts are included?
The exam token includes two attempts, valid for two years from purchase. You can therefore sit the exam soon after the course and keep the second attempt in reserve.
How does CCSK differ from CCSP?
CCSK is a knowledge certificate with no experience requirement. ISC2's CCSP is an advanced certification requiring five years of experience, and the CCSK can waive one of those years.
What changed in version 5?
The material was consolidated into twelve domains. There are now separate domains for governance, organization management, workload security and resilience, plus a domain on related technologies and strategies. Study materials were aligned with this new structure.
Is the course available online or in Casablanca?
Both: as a live online class, in person in Casablanca, or on-site at your organization, taught in French or English.
Securevalley training — online and in-person sessions. Contact us for pricing and registration terms.
Securevalley is not a training partner of Cloud Security Alliance. Cloud Security Alliance, CSA and CCSK are trademarks of Cloud Security Alliance.